Taking the next step in your career requires rethinking how you present yourself to employers. Your curriculum vitae, or CV, is the first opportunity you have to leave an impression. Therefore, it’s important to decide what to include and what to omit from your document. Fortunately, we have put together this executive director CV example and a few writing tips to refer to while you compose your new CV. With these pointers, we can help you become a stronger, more appealing job candidate.

Private attorney and university professor seeking transition into nonprofit executive director position. 23 years’ experience as civil attorney for nonprofit organizations, and currently University of Pennsylvania visiting law professor. As a litigation attorney, I have fought major tax codes to defend nonprofit status. I am steadfast, driven and detail-oriented. PhD in Economics with Summa Cum Laude and practicing attorney in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Strong critical thinking, communication and decision-making skills developed through years of hearings and financial investigation.

Work Experience

Visiting Professor of Law

2015-present

Prepare students for Bar Exam, concentrating on financial law and civil defense.

Superior analytical and critical thinking abilities developed over hundreds of trials and financial investigations

Experienced multi-tasker, and collected in high-pressure environments, many parts moving at once

Fluent in economics, complete dissertation on nonprofit status and state tax law

Team-oriented with confident communication skills

Organized, efficient and undaunted by complicated situations

Hobbies and Interests

As a legal advocate for many nonprofit organizations, I have always maintained a strong belief in the value of charity and fundraising. Outside the courtroom, I regularly attend and host gala events to raise money for charities on both the national and local levels. Additionally, I volunteer at my kids’ school, raising awareness about community service efforts. In my spare time, which is seldom, I prefer to catch up on reading and occasionally catch a few of my favorite legal dramas on television.

Tips for Writing Your Executive Director CV

Executive Director Overview

Though it may be clear from the executive director CV example, knowing the details of the job you’re seeking is extremely important when applying. Executive directors are typically first in command at most private and public sector organizations, responsible for overseeing the major decisions, such as company policies, budget plans and the overall direction of the business. Usually, they work under the Board of Directors, but in smaller companies, they can have nearly autonomous decision-making power.

Generally, executive directors have a team of subordinates to enact policies and run the day-to-day operations. Most candidates have had experience in leading teams and businesses in the past as this is considered a highly skilled and specialized position.

Skills and Knowledge to Include in Your Executive Director CV

Becoming an executive director requires a great deal of previous experience and education. Typically, candidates will not be considered without a bachelor’s degree or higher. More commonly, a master’s degree in business, law or similar field is preferred. Unlike other job titles, executive directors can come from a variety of backgrounds; however, many share similar professional skills, including decision-making abilities, financial competency, diplomatic finesse and leadership qualities. Candidates need to have a high stress tolerance since this position often requires quick decisions under high stakes. Finally, you must be communicative and able to delegate directions in a clear, effective and personable manner. As you review the executive director CV example above, take a closer look at how some of these skills and traits are included.

Tips for Writing an Excellent CV

With our executive director CV example and writing guide in hand, it’s now time to begin constructing your new and improved CV. Here are a few final pointers to consider when composing your document:

Be concise yet thorough. You want to cover as much ground as possible in your CV without going over a few pages. Instead of explaining your professional accomplishments in words, use metrics and numbers when you can to illustrate growth and achievements.

Incorporate active verbs and phrases to boost the reader’s engagement. Drab, uninspired language such as “worked at” and “responsible for” are less appealing than “coordinated with” and “spearheaded,” especially when you’re a hiring manager reading 30 CVs per day.

You want your document to be a recent reflection of your professional qualifications. Thus, you’ll want to omit jobs you held over 10 years ago or more. If your experience is thin, then include these older positions without going into detail.

Always proofread. Spelling errors and grammatical mistakes are a deal-breaker with hiring managers.

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